# 113
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'Adriana...'
I repeated that name in my head.
It went well with her older brother, Ascart, and seemed like a nice name.
I don't know if it was a coincidence or fate, but what was even more special was that the surname was the same as mine.
In addition.
'The child who was given a nickname even before he was born...'
For some reason, my throat felt tight.
The feeling of disappointment I felt a moment ago seemed to melt away like a marshmallow on top of hot chocolate.
I'm not sad anymore.
I thought I might be the child she cherished so much that I couldn't even allow nicknames for other children.
“Bianca, will you come to the Duke’s house this evening as well?”
“Huh? That's right, I was invited too.”
“Hehe haha, I hope you can come, I will see you later!”
I've been able to greet people with a cheerful voice without even trying.
I leaned over when I saw Bianca's expression light up and quickly turned around.
A cold wind passed my cheek as I walked quickly, but it wasn't cold at all.
But I shook my hand for no reason.
I miss the warmth of our hands that touched just moments ago. I wanted to hold that hand again.
And if that day came, I wanted to say so.
I am your daughter.
* * *
After the child ran away with a look of confusion on his face, silence fell over the Marquis's living room.
The only noise was when Bianca, who was observing the situation from the doorway, asked the Archduchess for permission to leave for a moment.
When the Archduchess nodded her head in agreement, Bianca immediately turned around and disappeared.
The Archduchess, who had been watching in silence, turned and looked at her father, who was frowning.
The Archduchess suddenly became upset and spoke coldly.
“Are you trying to use it as a replacement?”
"What do you mean ?"
“I know she's the same age as Adriana, isn't that why I called you grandpa?”
“What? I'm not like that, I'm just...”
The Marquis, who was trying to make a hasty excuse, paused for a moment and kept his mouth shut.
Was it really no?
For some reason, I felt attached to the little girl who approached me so warmly.
I also wanted to see her calling me Grandpa and worrying about me like she did the first day we met.
'Yes, maybe I didn't realize that...'
Deep down, he probably considered that girl to be Adriana's replacement.
“I'd rather you register her as a daughter.”
The Archduchess looked at the Marquis's pale face and said with a cold expression.
“If she were a younger sister of mine, I might have accepted it.”
The Archduchess, who was leaving the drawing room at a rapid pace, leaving behind the Marquis who could not say anything, stumbled and bent over due to a sudden feeling of dizziness.
The Archduchess, who was supported by the surprised maids who rushed to her, suddenly looked at her right hand.
The place where she held the little girl with both hands was warm and itchy.
Not long ago, she spoke to her father angrily and coldly, even though she knew it was not the child's fault.
But when I saw tears forming in the corners of the little girl's eyes, I felt my heart sink.
Before I could think about it, my hand went out to wipe away my tears.
When I thought of the child who was stunned and trembling at that time, I felt indescribably disturbed.
The Archduchess spoke as if to erase confusing thoughts.
“I want to take a shower.”
“I'll prepare bath water right away.”
After returning to the room and waiting for a while, the maids came and finished all the preparations to receive her.
The Archduchess entered the bathroom filled with hot steam and her maids left.
She quietly immersed herf in the bathtub and closed her eyes to erase the scenes that kept flashing before her.
But I could not erase the image of the little girl cowering in fear and the eyes looking at me with a sad expression on her face.
My chest throbbed with a familiar pain.
‘Our Adriana, such a child….’
I wonder if she feels sad because her heart has been hurt somewhere.
Suddenly I was overcome with remorse and wet my face with water from the bathtub.
But the mixed feelings didn't go away.
The Archduchess never forgot her daughter, not even for a moment, every day.
She still believes her daughter is alive.
If I didn't have that faith, I probably would have let it all go already.
But at the same time, the belief that her daughter was alive always led her to pain and despair.
Wouldn't she live in a harsh place, go through some hardships, and not within the fence of her powerful parents?
Because I was tormented by imagining the worst at every moment.
“Ha...”
The Archduchess touched her forehead and sighed as she felt another headache hit her.
But the psychological pain was greater than the physical pain.
“Adriana.”
My daughter misses you.
Just thinking about it brought tears to my eyes.
Even with my eyes open, I missed it.
I felt like I would do anything, let alone l my life, just so I could see my daughter.
“...I need to sleep a little more.”
There is still time until Duke Elad's dinner.
Although the Archduchess had woken up not long ago, she decided to go back to sleep after taking a shower.
Last night, her daughter appeared in her dream for the first time in a long time.
Even though everything was blurry, I could see it.
My daughter was crying.
But I wasn't crying because it was as painful or difficult as it was before.
Adriana spoke in her dream, smiling brightly and shedding tears.
〈Mom, I missed you so much.〉
〈I'm so happy to be part of your family〉
〈Even if I am born again, I want to be born as my mother’s daughter.〉
The Archduchess kissed her beautiful daughter, who did not hurt her eyes, and hugged her tightly for a long time.
I hope you can still have this dream.
She wanted it so bad.
* * *
When evening came, Marquis Diabelle's two carriages entered Elad's palace.
The Marquis, the Archduke, and Ascarte got out of the carriage in front, with Bianca supporting the Archduchess in the carriage behind them.
"Welcome."
Duke Elad, who was at the front door, greeted me with a rather cold voice.
The Duchess who was next to him poked him in the side, but today's guests, who knew the Duke's character well, said nothing.
“It's still the same even after he became a duke, it's cold, so why are you here even though you brought the children with you?”
Except for the Marquis Diabelle, of course.
The Marquis clicked his tongue and grumbled, “You are still the same, Marquis.”
After glancing at the Duke who responded, she looked away for no reason.
Because I was worried about Leah.
Since something like this had happened in the morning, the little girl must have been very upset.
I wanted to comfort her, but after facing my deep feelings, I felt sorry and couldn't look at her directly.
However, I couldn't help but keep looking, and eventually I saw the Duchess introducing herf and greeting me one by one, and Leah standing behind the children.
Fortunately, the baby was no longer crying and looked better than she did in the morning.
'. …like this.”
However, her gaze was focused on one side.
“It's been a long time, is this the first time since you visited the emirate before?”
“Yes, it has been almost ten years.”
This person was none other than Archduke Belus, who was exchanging greetings with the Duke.
The Marquis thought to himf: “Hmph!” Although I turned my head, I understood.
The disgraced son-in-law who cheated on his daughter has a radiant appearance even when he fluctuates.
Of course, Leia was simply observing the Archduke, who might be her father, but the Marquis, who had no way of knowing this, was lost in strange thoughts.
Even though Leia was with them, Askart was standing next to her awkwardly like an island, so she turned her gaze from observing the Archduke and looked at him.
He looked like he was alone, so she gently raised her hand and waved at him while noticing that the Archduchess wasn't even looking in that direction.
Askart, who had been staring straight ahead with an expressionless expression, saw this and secretly raised the corners of his mouth.
As Askart's face brightened, Leia's heart seemed to become lighter as well.
“Oh, it's cold, how long are you going to leave it outside? There are children and elderly people here, so why do you plan to make them suffer?”
When the Marquis scolded, the Duke shook his head and led everyone back to the palace.
After entering the hall, everyone naturally headed to the dining room.
“Allen, now that you’ve said hello, pick up your younger sister.”
"Oh? Why don't we eat together?"
“The presence of young children only disrupts guests' ability to eat.”
“Ha.”
I was looking forward to dinner.
Duchess Bon smiled and said, as if she couldn't help Allen from frowning.
“Diana, where should I prepare a meal?”
“Noona’s room!”
“Yes, don’t say that, Leah, go up and wait a moment.”
“Ah...yes.”
Leia was very embarrassed by the unexpected situation.
Of course, since it was a place for guests, he expected that he wouldn't be able to eat together as usual.
‘However, I planned to take care of Diana and keep an eye on the Archduke and Archduchess cloy.’
Seeing Askart looking at me with an apologetic expression, it seemed like this had been discussed previously.
I felt a little gloomy as it seemed as if the long-awaited opportunity had disappeared.
“Leia’s room...is it in the main building of the palace and not in the maid’s quarters?”
At that time, Bianca, who was standing quietly next to the Archduchess, asked in a puzzled voice.
"Hah! Her room is next to Diana's room!"
Diana answered proudly, holding Leia's arm.
Leia also shrugged her shoulders at these words.
Even distinguished guests who are not directly related to the Duke are not allowed to stay in the main house, so what other maid in the world would be treated like this?
This meant that Leia was greatly favored by the Duchy, and that she was a worthy and recognized person.
Leia only wanted to show her good side to the Marquis, the Archduke, his wife, Ascarte, and Bianca.
To be precise, I wanted to be seen as a useful child worthy of love, not a pathetic child with an unfortunate past.
“Ah…is that true?”
But when Bianca heard those words, her expression was completely shocked.